Exception

*Chapter 1*

18

That's my age. Ever since I grew up to understand what love was, I always imagined what it would feel like to fall in love. In my mind, I visualized how it would feel, how it would look and how it would happen but despite me preparing myself to fall for someone, it just hadn't happened yet. My friends always tease me telling me that I'm weird just because I haven't had my first real boyfriend, first falling in love experience and first everything but as cliché as what I'm about to say sounds, I'm waiting for the right guy.

Some people tell me that I'm living in a fantasy just because I'm waiting for Mr Right. I beg to differ; I strongly feel I'm being real with myself. Isn't it better to be true to yourself than to run with the wind in the hopes of pleasing the world? It's not that I don't get lonely, I do at times. Okay many times, more times than necessary. I also wish that I could have my special someone who I can cuddle, kiss, go out on dates with (especially group dates)....you get the point.

I just feel like until I find that guy I feel a deep connection with then why waste time with someone I don't really like just for the sake of "experiencing the teenage life". That then brings me to my current self, stuck in a car with two of my best friends and well their boyfriends.

It's kinda awkward being a fifth wheel but it's so much better than me mopping back at home hoping to feel the void in my heart with chocolate chip ice cream. I try my best not to look at my friends much whenever they show gestures of affection which I have learned makes it even more awkward for all of us.

"So Anna's band is playing next week and I was wondering if any of you are going?" Amelia, one of my best friends asked with her eyes trained onto the road ahead but she glanced at the rear view mirror for a split second.

She was driving us to our favourite pizza place, the Pizza Hut, with Ben, her boyfriend sitting on the passenger seat and I was stuck beside Linda and Chris trying my best to occasionally put on my best fake smile despite feeling miserable.

"We would absolutely love to," Linda answered for herself and Chris with a grin. "I really feel like in a few years Anna is going to be a star."

I shared those sentiments entirely, Anna was a really great singer and if she met with the right people, she would be helping us get into the best clubs as soon as we could get into clubs.

"How about you Jenna, are you going?" Amelia asked glancing at me through her rear mirror and she caught my gaze before her eyes darted back to the road.

"No," I slowly replied and suddenly the attention was on me so I started rumbling. "I mean I've got a thing that's really important and I can't miss that thing so I can't go there but you guys should go and have so much fun because like I said I have that really important thing so yeah."

"What thing?" Chris asked raising his eyebrows with a knowing smirk.

I hated how he could read through me like that. He obviously knew that I didn't have a thing so I wonder why he would choose to direct the attention on me like that.

"History project," I replied quickly letting the lie flawlessly slide from my tongue.

"You're working on it with whom?" Chris pressed and I glared at him which made him chuckle.

Just as I was about to make up another lie, the car stopped at the Pizza Hut and we all shuffled out. As usual the place was packed with teenagers and it smelt of pizza. The Pizza Hut was modern looking with huge transparent windows offering a view of the street outside. There were a couple of tables and chairs thrown around the room in a semi orderly arrangement. Near the till there was a long counter with a couple of bar stools that faced the windowless side of the place. A vase of flowers plus a few utensils decorated the counter giving it a junky look that was kinda homey.